The Volunteer and Information Center’s 25-year-old program, Adopt-a-Family, will soon come to a close for this year. Every year in October, families apply for the program and include the children’s wish lists and clothing sizes. “Helpers” sign up and are matched with a family’s children, shop for the children and then deliver the gifts to a location where the family picks them up.
Wednesday, December 9, 125 individuals, business and church representatives (Santa’s Helpers) will take the gifts they’ve purchased for the 385 children to the Henderson Housing Authority gym, 111 S. Adams Street between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon and families will pick up their gifts between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
“Adopt-a-Family” is the longest-running program hosted by the Volunteer and Information Center,” according to Susan Sauls, executive director. “The process for making sure each child gets the right gifts has changed over the years and now seems to flow pretty nicely because of the hours of “matching” and preliminary work that takes place. This is another successful collaborative effort between local groups—VIC, Colonels Corner students, Holy Name parishioners, Housing Authority, some dedicated volunteers, to name a few. This year COVID has changed the face of this program and how some of our corporate and student helpers are participating. But COVID hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm many people have in wanting to help others have a merry Christmas.”
The Volunteer and Information Center (VIC) is celebrating its 30th year of hosting programs to empower Henderson’s children and families. VIC programs are focused on connecting people who need help with those who want to help and by helping strengthen children and families, ultimately creating a stronger community. In addition to Adopt-a-Family, VIC programs also include Build-a-Bed, Clothing for Confidence, Bank On family financial management, Stabilizing Assets and Financial Education (SAFE), and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, (VITA free tax preparation service).
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